The federal government issued on May 9 a solicitation for proposals from teams led by non-profit organizations or universities to establish an Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which would serve as a pilot—or proof-of-concept prototype—for President Obama's proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI).

According the Broad Agency Announcement* issued by the Department of Defense (DOD), the government anticipates awarding a total of $30 million over 30 months, with at least an equivalent cost-share contribution by the winning applicant. The pilot institute award and management will be a cross-agency effort, but will primarily be led by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing & Industrial Base Policy, executed through the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Partnering with the DOD are the Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and National Science Foundation. After the awardee is selected, DOC’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will provide an additional $5 million.

The deadline for proposals is 3:00 pm, June 14, 2012, Eastern time.

The solicitation seeks proposals, including technical and business plans, detailing steps to accelerate research, development, and demonstration in additive manufacturing and transition technology to manufacturing enterprises within the United States.

The announcement defines additive manufacturing as the "process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, such as traditional machining."

The goal of the pilot institute is to increase the successful transition of additive manufacturing technology through advanced manufacturing innovation, create an adaptive workforce capable of meeting industry needs, further increasing domestic competitiveness, and meet DoD, Department of Energy, and other participating civilian agency requirements.

Stakeholders interested in submitting a proposal may attend the Proposer's Day planned for May 16, 2012 in Arlington, Va., and learn more about the pilot institute concept and associated technology needs. Attendance is not a prerequisite for submitting a proposal; however, this event will provide a valuable opportunity to ask questions.